title: Low-dose computed tomography via spatially adaptive Monte-Carlo reconstruction.
abstract: Low-dose computed tomography (CT) reduces radiation exposure but decreases signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and diagnostic capabilities. Noise compensation can improve SNR so low-dose CT can provide valuable information for diagnosis without risking patient radiation exposure. In this study, a novel noise-compensated CT reconstruction method that uses spatially adaptive Monte-Carlo sampling to produce noise-compensated reconstructions is investigated. By adapting to local noise statistics, a non-parametric estimation of the noise-free image is computed that successfully handles non-stationary noise found in low-dose CT images. Using phantom and real low-dose CT images, effective noise suppression is shown to be accomplished while maintaining structures and details.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address: dlui@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Amen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modhafar
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Biomedical imaging; Image processing; Image reconstruction; Low-dose computed tomography; Noise compensation